College/Uni kicking students out for not vaxing, again!

[hxcmama]

I am 37. Twice in my life I have been deleted from the college schedules because I didn't have vaccines. In 1992 when I was a student at UMass I went to school to find my schedule deleted and again in 1997 when I was a student at a community college. Both times I tried to argue an exemption and both times ended up getting the full set of vaccines just to have my classes back in time not to miss anything. Now it is 2010 and I am going to start college again and with my acceptance letter I get some paperwork about "having to" have vaccines! What can I do THIS TIME to go to college and not have to get even more unnecessary shots? Every one of these schools claim there is "no religious or philosophical exemption". There is little to no chance of getting records showing I had vaccines in 1997

[caned & able]

I have never had a problem, and I have attended college at all levels for years here in the NE.

There should be a record of you getting your vaxes 13 years ago in your health records.

[Emmeline II]

Write an exemption letter that references the public health code and the General Law. You could even staple copies of the law to the letter and carry a copy of what you turn in, with you.

Sample Religious Exemption Letter(change the state law reference):

Quote:
To whom it may concern;



(We / I) {First and Last name(s)}, as the {(parent (s) / guardian(s)} of ______________________(name of newborn child) are exercising (our/my) rights under the US Constitution; Massachusetts Department of Health, 105 CMR 220.600: Immunization Requirements for Postsecondary Students; and Massachusetts General Law PART I, TITLE XII, Chapter 76. Section 15C; to receive Religious Exemption from Vaccination, ALL injections, prophylaxis, & testing due to our genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices herein required.

The U.S. Supreme Court held in Frazee V. Illinois Dept. of Security, 489 U.S. 829, that a religious belief is subject to protection even though no religious group espouses such beliefs or the fact that the religious group to which the individual professes to belong may not advocate or require such belief. This ruling is also reflected in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended Nov. 1, 1980; Part 1605.1-Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Religion.


Sincerely,

Your signature.
Date


MA Immunization/Exemption Requirements

General Laws of Massachusetts

[hxcmama]

Thanks Emmeline, I will copy that and submit it and see what they say.

There is no record of my old vaccines because I got them there at the college (in a vaccine station of the health office), my attendance was held "hostage" until I submitted to the vaccines both times, and they do not maintain long term records of this. It was terrible, I needed to go to class that day and I was literally not allowed to until I got the shots both times.

Oh I found this too - I wish I has this 20 years ago!

[hxcmama]

I'm bringing this up again because I am having a fight with the college now; I titured out of everything except varicella (despite having it; you can clearly see the scars on me!) and hep b which is a vaccine I haven't/ won't get. i am deciding between writing religious exemption letter or begging doctor to tell them I need a medical exemption and confirm I have chicken pox scars. I just don't know what to do. What I do know is that I am not getting shots even if it keeps me out of college.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by hxcmama 

I'm bringing this up again because I am having a fight with the college now; I titured out of everything except varicella (despite having it; you can clearly see the scars on me!) and hep b which is a vaccine I haven't/ won't get. i am deciding between writing religious exemption letter or begging doctor to tell them I need a medical exemption and confirm I have chicken pox scars. I just don't know what to do. What I do know is that I am not getting shots even if it keeps me out of college.

You have the right to submit a religious exemption. You may get a doctor to state you've had cp but this still leaves the issue of hep b. ( which by the way is ridiculous to have to have to attend college). Submit a religious exemption. The law is on your side.